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Unemployment rate in Libya

Libya: Unemployment rate was 18.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
18.8%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
10th
of 186 countries
All-time high
19.8%
in 2021
All-time low
18.6%
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025

Unemployment rate in Libya, 1991–2025

051015201991200820251991: 18.6 %1992: 18.8 %1993: 19 %1994: 19.3 %1995: 19.3 %1996: 19.2 %1997: 19.2 %1998: 19.2 %1999: 19.2 %2000: 19.3 %2001: 19.2 %2002: 19.3 %2003: 19.1 %2004: 18.9 %2005: 18.7 %2006: 18.8 %2007: 18.8 %2008: 19 %2009: 19.3 %2010: 19.3 %2011: 19.5 %2012: 19 %2013: 19.3 %2014: 19.3 %2015: 19.7 %2016: 19.6 %2017: 19.1 %2018: 18.9 %2019: 19.1 %2020: 19.7 %2021: 19.8 %2022: 19.2 %2023: 18.7 %2024: 19.1 %2025: 18.8 %

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Libya recorded 18.8% for unemployment rate in 2025.

The figure is down 1.7% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Libya peaked at 19.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.6%, in 1991.

That places Libya 10th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 19.1% 18.6% 19.3% 9
2000s 19.0% 18.7% 19.3% 10
2010s 19.3% 18.9% 19.7% 10
2020s 19.2% 18.7% 19.8% 6

Countries ranked near Libya

  1. 7 Congo 19.9% compare
  2. 8 Namibia 19.3% compare
  3. 9 Somalia 18.9% compare
  4. 11 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18.0% compare
  5. 12 Yemen 17.3% compare
  6. 13 Jordan 16.5% compare

See the full ranking of 186 places →

More work & labour data for Libya

All data for Libya →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate in Libya?
Unemployment rate in Libya was 18.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Libya?
The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 2021.
What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Libya?
The lowest recorded value was 18.6% in 1991.
How does Libya rank for unemployment rate?
Libya ranks 10th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Libya?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Libya data come from?
The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate
Unit
%
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 6,496 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.